All throughout the Bible, God the Father and Jesus are always spoken of as being separate and different individuals.

Let's start with God the Father:

6. one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Ephesians 4:6

The Father is identified as God. He is the Father of all. He is above everything and He is in us all!

In the next verse we see that there are two individuals who took part in the creation process:

6. yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live. 1 Corinthians 8:6

Once again we see that there is one God, that is the Father. So Jesus is not declared to be God. Jesus is separate from God the Father. We also see that both the Father and Jesus created everything, but it was the Father who created through Jesus.

3. that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:3

John wanted to have fellowship with those he was writing to. But in addition, he said that truly, our fellowship is really with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. So, we can see that Jesus is not only separate from the Father but that He is the Son. Jesus is the Son of God. These are the two that we have fellowship with.

At this point it is interesting to note that the Holy Spirit is not included in with those who created everything nor is the Holy Spirit included as one that we are to have fellowship.

5. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 1 Timothy 2:5

We have seen that Jesus is the Son of God. Now we find that there is only one God and Jesus is the only Mediator between God and man.

We have always been told that the Holy Spirit is a mediator. But now in Timothy we see that there is only one mediator which is Jesus.

21. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
22. Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.
23. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
24. Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. 1 John 2:21-24

It should be clear that if we deny that Jesus is the Christ or if we deny the Father and the Son we are against God and we will not live in the Son and in the Father.

16. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
17. "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
18. "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:16-18

It is clear by the text that God had a Son beforehand to give. Otherwise He could not have given Him to us and His Son would not have been a genuine gift.

The whole point of John 3:16 is that God so loved us that He gave us His most prized possession, that of His Own Son. The Father had His own Son who He Himself begot. That is why it required love for God to give Him to us because it was the Son of His bosom.

18. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. John 1:18

Now, let's look in the book of Revelation to see how God and His Son, the Lamb of God, are worshipped in Heaven:

12. saying with a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!"
13. And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: "Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!"
14. Then the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever. Revelation 5:8-14.

Because the Lamb is found worthy, they bring praise and honor to the Lamb. But it is the one who sits on the throne that they worshiped. We can see the difference even in Heaven, The Father who sits on the throne of God is God and He is worshipped above all others. Jesus is the Son of God and is also blessing and honor and glory and Power. All the while here is no mention of the Holy Spirit. No one seems to be worshipping the Holy Spirit!

9. After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
10. and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"
11. All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,
12. saying: "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen." Revelation 7:9-12.

A great multitude stands before the throne and before the Lamb and they cry out that salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.

Now if there were a third person, the Holy Spirit, would He not have a part to play in our salvation? Doesn't the Holy Spirit have a very definite role to play in our salvation? A separate third individual is not even mentioned at all. Only God and the Lamb are mentioned.

Then all in heaven fall down and worship God who is on the throne. He is the one who receives the ultimate worship.

Now let's look at a different point in time and place. We will see who will be found on the throne in the new earth, more specifically, in the New Jerusalem:

1. And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
2. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
3. And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. Revelation 22:1-3

We see that God the Father and the Lamb will be present. In the new world, the river of life will come out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. There will be no more curse in the land but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it.

In this Scripture, we do not see the Holy Spirit even mentioned. There is no separate individual that is named the Holy Spirit in the New world.

But look closely at this next verse, We will now start to see why no individual called the Holy Spirit is even mentioned in Heaven or in the New world:

3. And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.
4. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.
5. And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. Revelation 3:3-5

This is very different. I have never heard of anyone talking about the seven Spirits of God. Yet, we have this description of God sitting on His throne. And associated with God on the throne are seven lamps of fire which are called the seven Spirits of God. It seems to be an attribute of God Himself and I believe these seven Spirits of God are the Holy Spirit. To help confirm that let's look at the next verse:

6. And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Revelation 5:6

In this description of the Lamb who is Jesus. We see that Jesus is pictured as having seven eyes which are also called the seven Spirits of God. In addition these spirits are said to go into all the earth. I find it very interesting that these Spirits are pictured as being seven eyes. Appariently they allow Jesus to see things on the earth. The seven Spirits are definitly an attribute of the Lamb. Not an individual separate from that of the Father and Jesus. I believe that this is the Holy Spirit that Jesus gives us. And I believe we will see this in the selections of Scripture below.

To understand who or what the Holy Spirit is, let's start with God the Father since all things come from Him:

24. "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." John 4:24

God Himself is Spirit. This makes sense since God is omnipresent, meaning He is present everywhere at the same time.

11. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Psalm 51:11

Here in this verse, God's presence is what is desired. Now if God is omnipresent and He is Spirit, it certainly makes sense that His presence can be with us. In this verse the Presence of God is associated with what is called the Holy Spirit.

29. "And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him." John 8:29

The Father has also sent His presence along with His Son when He came to the earth. God did not leave Jesus by Himself.

Now that Jesus has risen and gone to the Father, He has delivered on His promise to give us a special Helper or Comforter. This gift is greater than what was available to us before:

26. "But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. John 15:26

The gift we receive proceeds from the Father but it is Jesus who actually gives us the Spirit. Because Jesus gives us the Spirit, the Spirit specifically testifies concerning Jesus.

Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit which is the Helper or the Spirit of truth:

32. "This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.
33. "Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. Acts 2:32-33

So, Jesus, whom God has raised up from the dead, has received the promise of the Holy Spirit so that He can pour it out on us.

4. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,
5. not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
6. whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, Titus 3:4-6

The Holy Spirit is the kindness and the love that appears to us which regenerates and renews us. The next verse shows that it is actually Jesus Himself that dwells in us:

14. For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15. from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16. that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,
17. that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, Ephesians 3:14-17

Now we have every reason to worship God the Father for granting us the richness of His glory. He thus allows us to be strengthened through His Spirit in a way that allows Jesus to dwell in your hearts.

So, How can we put the two following ideas together:

1. Initially we saw that Jesus gave us the gift that comes from the Father. So, Jesus receives the gift Himself then He gives it to us, which is the gift of God's Holy Spirit that testifies of Jesus.

2. Now we see that it is Jesus Himself that dwells in our hearts. So, the Spirit of God going through Jesus somehow allows Jesus to dwell in our hearts.

The answer is found in the next verse:

45. And so it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being." The last Adam [Christ] became a life-giving spirit. 1 Corinthians 15:45

So Jesus has now became a life-giving spirit, the Spirit of truth. He now has been given the Holy Spirit which changes Him. This change now makes Jesus a life-giving spirit.

In the next verse we see that God the Father has actually sent the Spirit of Christ into the world and into our hearts:

6. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" Galatians 4:6

More is happening then just having Jesus receive the Holy Spirit from God so He can give it to us. The thing that has happened is that Jesus Himself has become a life-giving spirit. This is how God the Father is able to send the Spirit of His Son into our hearts!

This relates to what we have already seen in Revelation 5:

6. And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Revelation 5:6

Jesus Himself now has seven eyes which are sent out into all the earth. So we find that His presence can actually be with us.

So, Jesus actually lives in us by the Spirit which is now His Spirit:

24. All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us. 1 John 3:24 NRSV

Jesus lives in us by the Spirit that He has given us. He actually abides in us!

This explains how Jesus can say that He will be with us always even till the end of the world:

20. . . . "and lo, I [Jesus] am with you always, even to the end of the world." Amen. Matthew 28:20 part

If we open the door, Jesus will be in us as well:

20. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
21. "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
22. "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'" Revelation 3:20-22

When Jesus lives in us, we can then live by faith:

20. "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20

We are to even test ourselves to see if Jesus is in us:

5. Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? --unless indeed you are disqualified. 1 Corinthians 13:5

Jesus died and then rose that He might fill all things:

10. He who descended [into the grave] is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things. Ephesians 4:10

This is very important! Jesus can now fill all things because He ascended to God in Heaven. Now it is the Spirit of Jesus Christ which fills all things.

19. For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, Philippians 1:19

It is the Spirit of Jesus Christ and prayer that gives us deliverance.

3. Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the LORD. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, Like the latter and former rain to the earth. Hosea 6:3

Jesus comes to us with His Spirit like the rain, the early and latter rain.

9. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
10. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. Romans 8:9-10

You will notice in a few of these texts that the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ are used interchangably. I want the Spirit of God the Father to dwell in me, that is the Spirit of Christ because they share the same Spirit.

17. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 2 Corinthians 3:17

So Jesus our Lord is the Spirit and where His Spirit is, there is liberty.

We will now take an even closer look at how Jesus is able to receive the Holy Spirit which enables Him to give us His own Spirit, The Spirit of Christ:

7. "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. John 16:7

The only way Jesus' disciples could receive the Helper was if Jesus left them. It is only when Jesus departs that He will send the Helper or comforter to them.

39. But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. John 7:39

This verse has a new element. Jesus could not give His Spirit to us because He was not yet glorified. Only when He is glorified is He able to become a life-giving spirit. Now, today, He is able to send His disciples and His church the presence of His own Spirit.

Just before Jesus was to die He prayed this request to His Father:

1. Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: "Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You,
2. "as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.
3. "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
4. "I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.
5. "And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. John 17:1-5

In Jesus' prayer, He identifies His Father as being the only true God. Jesus is the one who God has sent to the earth. But Jesus has one main request that He is asking His Father. He is asking that He may be glorified with Him as He was glorified before He came into the world!

Jesus has a reason for His request of glorification. we find it in the second verse. He is asking to be glorified so that He can give eternal life to God's people on earth. Look at the next selection for confirmation:

22. "And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:
23. "I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
24. "Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. John 17:22-24

Jesus is very specifically asking to take God's people back to heaven so they can be together to see His glory when He will be in Heaven (verse 24).

Now Jesus is asking to receive the Holy Spirit so He can do specific kinds of things:

1. Jesus will receive the omnipresence which He had before with God.

2. Jesus will receive the glory which He had with the Father before the world was.

3. Now Jesus can not only be with His disciples but He can be in His disciples as well.

4. So, Jesus will be in us just as the Father is in His Son!
   
   This was done so that we may be made perfect in one with God, and that the world may know that the Father has sent His Son, and that God has loved us in the same way He has loved His Son.

5. The disciples are allowed to behold Christ' glory.

6. In addition, Jesus empowered His disciples to do mighty works.

The answer to this prayer was the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit:

49. "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high." Luke 24:49

Ten days after Jesus ascended to Heaven Jesus was glorified by His Father with the glory that He had with the Father before the world was. In being glorified, He received the promise of the Holy Spirit so that the Spirit of the Father is now also the Spirit of the Son, thus giving Him omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence. This is how Jesus became a life-giving Spirit that He might fill all things.

4. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;
5. one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
6. one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Ephesians 4:4-6

There are not two spirits but only one Spirit. So the Holy Spirit is now the spirit of both the Father and the Son.

Now John 14 is an interesting chapter. Many think it helps confirms the idea that "another Helper" is given to us. Somebody other then Jesus Christ.

But we will see that John 14 actually confirms the opposite, that the Holy Spirit is now the spirit of both the Father and the Son.

16. "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-- John 14:16

It does sound like Jesus is talking about someone else because He speaks of the Helper in "third person". However, there are many other times where Jesus speaks about Himself while He uses the "third person".

In addition, if we continue reading to verse 18, we get the completely opposite position that we get by just reading verse 16:

16. "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever--
17. "the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
18. "I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. John 14:16-18

The Helper is called the Spirit of truth. Jesus says that the world cannot receive Him nor see Him nor know Him. But then Jesus said to His disciples that they know Him for He dwells with them and will be in them.

That is a pretty good hint right there because it is Jesus Himself who lived with them and He also had promised to be in them in the future. However, Jesus then comes right out and says it: "I will not leave you orphans because I will come to you".

So, Jesus said that another helper (or comforter) is coming. Then He turns around and tells them that He Himself will be with them.

Notice in verse 17 that Jesus said to His disciples that the world cannot receive the spirit of truth, but you can because you know Him. In fact, He already dwells with you.

So of course the disciples knew Jesus having lived with Him. Now He promises that He will not only come to them but He will also be in them.

This idea matches with what Jesus had said earlier:

4. "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. John 15:4

So, Jesus is speaking of His living in us!

At Pentecost, the promise came and Peter told the curious people that Jesus, who was now sitting at the right hand of God, had just received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit:

33. "Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. Acts 2:33

If we continue with what Jesus said about the helper, we will find out who this helper is:

18. "I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
19. "A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also.
20. "At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.
21. "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him." John 14:18-21

We saw already that Jesus told them directly that He Himself will come to them. "I will not leave you orphans because I will come to you"

Then He said that pretty soon the world will not see me but you will see me. because Jesus will love them and manifest Himself to His disciples.

22. Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?" John 14:22

Judas got it right and he asked how Jesus would manifest to us but not the world? So the disciples knew that Jesus was really taking about Himself being with them.

Then Jesus told how both He and the Father would be with them:

23. Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. John 14:23

Not only will Jesus love us and manifest Himself to us but the Father also loves us and both God who is the Father and the Son of God who is Jesus, they will both come and make their home in us.

This is confirmed in other verses:

3. that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:3

Our fellowship is with both the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

23. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
24. Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. 1 John 2:23-24

So indeed, if we have the Son, we also have the Father but if we deny the Son we do not have the Father either. We will abide in both the Son and in the Father.

It is very important to see that the Bible does not say that we abide in the Holy Spirit or that we fellowship with the Spirit. We Fellowship with the Father and Son and we abide in the Father and Son because they share the same spirit. So they both come to make Their home with us.

Nowhere does the Bible speak of the Holy Spirit as being part of a Trinity or even as a separate individual. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God and the Spirit of the Son together.

25. "O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me.
26. "And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them." John 17:25-26

The next two questions are from other pages, and they look at these places in Scripture that mention the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit together.

I want my belief to be based on the Bible and the Bible only. For instance: I have been intensely studying the trinity controversy for the last two years, trying to find evidence for the trinity in the Bible. As a result, I have to say that the trinity doctrine is not found in the Bible at all!

Now, talk about being in the minority! If I take the view that the trinity does not exist, I would definitely be in an extremely small minority among Christians! Yet it is not found in the Bible!

So, what am I to do? Most people who might see this page will probably think I am really off base or even a part of a cult. They might not even consider me to be a Christian. But what am I to do? The Trinity doctrine is not even in the Bible! People seem to be following tradition instead of following what the Bible itself actually says! So, I have decided that I must stay true to my convictions that I must follow His word, the word of God as found in the Bible.

Much of 1 John 5:7, that is found in the KJV, is in no Greek manuscript older than the 15th and 16th centuries. The disputed words found their way into the KJV by way of the Greek text of Erasmus.

Some have said that Erasmus offered to include the disputed words in his Greek Testament if he were shown even one Greek Manuscript that contained them.

It is now believed that the later editions of the Vulgate acquired the passage by the mistake of a scribe who included an exegetical marginal comment in the Bible text that he was copying.

The disputed words have been widely used in support of the doctrine of the Trinity, but, in view of such overwhelming evidence against their authenticity, their support is valueless and should not be used.

In spite of fact that these extra words are found in the Vulgate, a Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture freely admits that: "It is now generally held that this passage, called the Comma Johanneum, is a gloss that crept into the text of the Old Latin and Vulgate at an early date, but found its way into the Greek text only in the 15th and 16th centuries" (Thomas Nelson and Sons, 1954, p. 1186.)

So what was it that was added? Here is what is found in the New King James. (The added words are in red.)

7. For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.
8. And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one. 1 John 5:7-8 NKJV.

Here are the same two verses with the added words taken out.

7. For there are three that bear witness:
8. the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one. 1 John 5:7-8 NKJV.

Some have assumed this text was added to help solve the problem of not having any Biblical evidence to support the Trinity doctrine.

Here is the text:

19. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Matthew 28:19

The question is: Did Jesus ever actually say to baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit?

As you will see, the early church did not baptize this way. They only baptized in the name of Jesus. There is no record of them doing it any other way!

Some have suggested that Jesus' words to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit was actually added to Matthew 28:19 in the second century when Trinity doctrine was established.

Unfortunately, there has been no surviving Bibles from the first three centuries. Bibles were consistantly burned during much of this period. Most of the first copies come from the 5th century. There are two from the 4th centuary, however, the page that contains Matthew 28:19 is strangly missing. So we have no record of a change if it did occur.

There is one Bible that was not destroyed. The Jews had preserved and handed down a Hebrew version of Matthew. This version does not include the Trinity part of the verse at all. All it says is: "Go and teach. . ." All there is of verse 19 is "Go"! There is nothing about who's name we are to be baptized. (Shem Tov's Hebrew Matthew Gospel)

So, did Jesus actually say, as part of the Gospel Commision, that His disciples were to baptize "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit"?

The best way to find out is to determine how the first converts were baptized into the Christian church as recorded in the book of Acts.

If Jesus had told His disciples to baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, they certainly would have obeyed His instructions and we would see evidence of this practice in the early Christian church.

If the disciples never did baptize this way, it should cause us to question whether Jesus ever did give us this command. It would also help to confirm the idea that the extra text was actually added as a "baptismal formula" after the Trinity doctrine was later established in the church, possibly in the 2nd to the 4th Centuries.

Let's look at the Bible to try to determine how the very early Christians baptized people. The first public mention of baptism in Acts was at Pentecost:

37. Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"
38. Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:37-38

Peter said that they were to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ! He did not say anything about the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in his talk at all. This is only a few days after Jesus had given them their instructions on what to do. Certainly they would not forget so soon.

This speech Peter gave was given on a special day. It was Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was given to the church in large measure. Everyone heard the Christians speaking in their own language and they wondered what was happening. So, Peter, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, told them that this was a fulfillment of the last days. It was at this time that he spoke of baptism: "let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins". Thousands were baptized.

This is how the early church baptized its converts: It was done in the name of Jesus Christ!

The next example, that we have, happened after Steven was stoned. Philip went to Samaria and preached about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. These people were also baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus (see verse 16 below):

12. But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. Acts 8:12

When Jerusalem heard what happened in Samaria they sent Peter and John:

14. Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,
15. who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.
16. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
17. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. Acts 8:14-17

They laid their hands on them and prayed for them that they may receive the Holy Spirit. They had already been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus!

So it is clear in this second example that Philip baptized his converts in the name of the Lord Jesus as well.

Later, Philip met with the eunuch. Philip taught him about Jesus and when they saw a body of water the eunuch asked; "What hinders me from being baptized?"

35. Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.
36. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, ÒSee, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?"
37. Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."
38. So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Acts 8:35-38

Philip said you must believe with all your heart. But the eunuch knew exactly what Philip was talking about and when he stated his belief, he put in all the details: "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God"!

To believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God is exactly what Jesus Himself said was needed. Jesus said that your work is to believe in Jesus, the Son of God:

28. Then they said to Him, ÒWhat shall we do, that we may work the works of God?Ó
29. Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent." John 6:28-29

What Jesus has said is that whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, it is he that God will live within.

15. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 1 John 4:15

In addition, Jesus said that we are to have life in His name, in the name of Jesus who is the Christ, the Son of God!

31. but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. John 20:31

Jesus never said that we had strength or life in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit or even of the Trinity. He never said that! Jesus said that we have life in His name, in the name of Jesus! It is through the name of Jesus that God can live in us and Jesus said that this is our specific work to believe in Jesus whom the Father sent. There is actually no other name in which we are called to be saved!

10. "let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.
11. "This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.'
12. Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:10-12

Jesus is the one given under heaven to men so that we can be saved. There is no other name given to us so we can be saved. No other name at all! There is no one else because our salvation only comes from Jesus. This is why we should be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus; Just as was done in the early church. It is Jesus who saves us!

In the next example, Peter found himself with gentiles. So he preached Jesus to them, that Jesus Christ is Lord of all:

36. "The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ--He is Lord of all--
37. "that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached:
38. "how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
39. "And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree.
40. "Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly,
41. "not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.
42. "And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.
43. "To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins."
44. While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.
45. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.
46. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered,
47. "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?"
48. And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days. Acts 10:36-48

Paul, in talking about Jesus, said that it was through His name, that our sins are forgiven! The Holy Spirit fell on them all and they were baptized in the name of the Lord. Verse 36 tells us that Jesus is the Lord of all. So they were baptized in the name of Jesus as well.

Paul said something real interesting. In verse 42 above, he said that Jesus commanded them to preach to the people. So, when did He do that? Of course! It is the Gospel commission that this question is about. We see it again below but with both Matthew and Mark's recounting of what Jesus said. These are parallel accounts:

In Matthew (above), we see that all authority has been given to Jesus in heaven and on earth. So it should not surprise us to find that in Mark (above) that signs will follow those who believe. It should also not surprise us that it is in the name of Jesus that they will do the signs. So they believe in Jesus and it is in His name that they commit the miracles (signs).

When Jesus said to make disciples, He was saying to make disciples of Jesus; not to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!

26. "If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor. John 12:26

If we serve and follow Jesus, the Father will honor us. So we are indeed disciples or followers of Jesus. We are His servants.

In the book of Acts we find that Paul was telling all he met to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ so they can be saved!

30. And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
31. So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household." Acts 16:30-31

So Paul is teaching people to be disciples of Jesus. Throughout the New Testament, no one else is even mentioned.

Let's look at the Gospel commission again. I have it again below:

If we look at the subject matter of all these verses: everything points to Jesus Christ. All authority is given to Him; making disciples of Jesus; the command to observe all Jesus' teachings; believing in Jesus; In His Name signs will follow.

Jesus specifically said that all authority had been given to Him. So it is through His name alone that we are saved. We therefore make converts so that they can be disciples of Jesus.

The statement to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit does not match anything else in the text. Also, all throughout Acts we have the disciples baptizing only in the name of Jesus. It also goes against what all the rest of the New Testament says!

Looking at the whole of Scriptures, I do not believe that Jesus ever gave this command. (we will see that there are more examples to look at below.)

Look at Matthew 28:20. Jesus specifically tells the disciples to observe all things that He commands them. The disciples follow all the other commands but they don't follow that command. Rather, they baptize in the name of Jesus!

Here is the next example of baptism:

3. And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?" So they said, "Into John's baptism."
4. Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus."
5. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. Acts 19:3-6

Apollos had the baptism of John the baptist but not of Jesus. When he was finally baptized in the name of Jesus, he then received the Holy Spirit.

Again, there is no mention of the Trinity At all! Why isn't it practiced if Jesus did indeed give that command?

The last example we have is where Paul tells of his own conversion and baptism:

6. "Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me.
7. "And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?'
8. "So I answered, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said to me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.'

16. 'And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.' Acts 22:6-8, 16

Paul called on the name of the Lord, of Jesus, just like the other examples.

Because of the Biblical evidence that I have just pointed out; I think that Jesus never gave us the command to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The early church baptized only in the name of Jesus. There is no other name in which we are called to be saved!

10. "let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.
11. "This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.'
12. Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:10-12

Jesus is the one given under heaven to men so that we can be saved. there is no one else because our salvation comes from Jesus. Jesus spoke of this very thing when he spoke to Nicodemus:

14. "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
15. "that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:13-14

Jesus was lifted up to die for us. That is the reason why it is He, the Son of Man, who is the only one that can save us. Whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. This is why the early church baptized in the name of Jesus because it is through His name and His name only that we are saved.